Russia could use North Korean army in Ukraine, retired US general says
Suffering staggering losses in its war against Ukraine, Russia could look tousing the North Korean military in the conflict, former commander of United States Army Europe, General Ben Hodges said in an interview with NV, published on Sept. 6.
In order to satisfy its urgent need for combat UAVs, Moscow had to ask Iran for help – Russian dictator Vladimir Putin travelled to Tehran back in July, making the appeal in person.
Citing U.S. intelligence sources, The New York Times recently reported Russia is buying North Korean artillery shells and rockets.
“In regards to North Korean troops potentially fighting for Russia, I’d keep an eye out for news on that,” said Hodges.
“The Soviet Union used North Korean labor for a long time. North Korean soldiers would definitely much cheaper for Moscow than additional Wagner Group or Liga (Russian private military companies) troops, and it’s a significant economic incentive for the Kremlin.”
The general added it’s “entirely possible” for NK military to be deployed to Ukraine, although the logistics of such an operation “are difficult to envisage.”
“There’s the concept of horizontal escalation, in military science,” Hodges explained.
“North Korea has anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 trained soldiers, which could conceivably be used by Russia to fight in Ukraine. I think we ought to be talking with South Korea about putting more pressure on North Korea.”
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